LONDON, England — Alexis Sanchez’s omission from the Manchester United squad to face West Ham on Saturday was not down to injury, sources have told ESPN FC.
The Chilean travelled to London from Stockport train station ahead of the game with the rest of the United squad on Friday afternoon. But he was not included in Jose Mourinho’s 18-man matchday squad.
Asked about Sanchez’s omission from the squad before the West Ham match, Mourinho told BT Sport: “Options, just options,” and did not expand further.
How we’ll line up for #WHUMUN… #MUFC
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— Manchester United (@ManUtd) 29 September 2018
Sanchez has endured a wretched run of form this season, failing to score in his five appearances. His record since arriving at Old Trafford from Arsenal in January stands at three goals in 23 games.
The 29-year-old was an unused substitute in the penalty shootout defeat to Derby County on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup. In his last start against Wolves he was substituted after 63 minutes. He was also left out of the starting XI for the 3-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League.
Sanchez has been substituted in his last three starts — twice before the 65-minute mark — and has only completed 90 minutes once this season.
Manchester United face West Ham at the London Stadium following a turbulent week. Defeat to second tier Derby was followed by an alleged bust-up between Mourinho and Paul Pogba in training.
Pogba has been stripped of the United vice-captaincy — as revealed by ESPN FC — but was handed a start at the London Stadium. Mourinho’s men slipped eight points behind Liverpool following a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves last time out.
“A week with two bad results, but it could be worse. Could be better, could be worse but it is what it is. It’s in the past,” Mourinho added.
“We have a very difficult match against a team who have had a fantastic week. So, a difficult match for us but we believe in the work we did in the week.”
West Ham XI: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku, Noble, Rice, Obiang, Yarmolenko, Arnautovic, Anderson
Manchester United XI: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, Fellaini, Matic, McTominay, Pogba, Lukaku, Martial
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